Celebrity chef restaurants

I don't know if anyone else has June's Olive magazine, but there's a really interesting article entitled "Celebrity chefs on trial." Basically, they went undercover and reviewed the restaurants of a bunch of top celebrity chefs. The reviews were based on whether the chef was there, what the menu was like, the provenance of the food, service, food quality, decor, wine list and cost.

Jamie Oliver's Fifteen came in tops with 9/10. I've been planning to go there, so that's good news!

Tied for second with 8/10 were Gordon Ramsay's restaurant at Claridge's, and Anthony Worral Thompson's Kew Grill.

Poor Rick Stein (whom I love) received only 6.5/10 for his Seafood Restaurant.

Then it was Paul Rankin's Cayenne with 6/10.

Next was the lovely Jean-Christophe Novelli's White Horse with 5/10.

But bottom of the list was Gary Rhodes' Rhodes 24 with only 4/10.


P.S.  None of the chefs was present. No surprise there.

Not surprised by Gary Rhodes. He's so flippin' anal retentive only he could produce things to the standard he's setting I expect!

He's not one of my favourites either. He lost points on food ("good but not fantastic") and decor ("a bit like a posh airport lounge").

I read that article.  I thought it was very interesting.  I've been wanting to go to Gordon Ramsay's restaurant at the Claridge's for a while and I think we'll try to go now that we've read this review.  As for Rick Stein, I think their biggest problem was price but they say the food is fantastic.  I guess you get what you pay for 

June

As for Rick Stein, I think their biggest problem was price but they say the food is fantastic.  I guess you get what you pay for 

Absolutely. But it did sound a tad over-priced, even for great food. I've been to his fish & chip place in Padstow and it's wonderful! And under £10 -- even if you do have to queue up at an outdoor counter and eat out of cardboard. 

I love Rick Stein, too - I would love to eat at his seafood place! 

Is this the same issue with all the places to eat in Boston?  I have this one ready to read.

Is this the same issue with all the places to eat in Boston?  I have this one ready to read.

Yes! I thought of you (and Aimiloo) when I read it! 

Yes! I thought of you (and Aimiloo) when I read it! 

  Maybe when I go up to visit we will eat in one of them.

Now I'm really excited to read this issue. (I was saving it for when I have a lot of time)

I thought Cayenne was really good when I ate there - admittedly this was a few years ago, but it was an excellent restaurant. Rankin's cafes, however, are another story. They hold so much promise and never deliver, they just seem really sloppy and dirty, although they look posh from a distance.

I've heard that Claridge's is unreal! I'd love to go there some day!

There's a small restaurant near us that Phil Vickery owns. I can't remember what it's called, but it's supposed to be pretty good.

i love gordon ramsey.

but i would only eat at his restaurant if:

1) he performed table-dances wearing only a loincloth and

2) everything i ate was certified 100% vegetarian by the vegetarian society and the most right-wing whackjob guerrilla PETA member i could find.

The place I really want to go is The Foxhunter, Matt Tebbutt's place in Abergavenny. Only partly because he's so dishy. Mostly because I really liked his style of cooking on Great British Menu. Also, there's a cottage owned by him and his wife than you can stay in ... with a fridge stocked with breakfast items, and the option of having take-away from the restaurant. That would be heaven!